Gunmen on Sunday kidnapped 11 people travelling from Onitsha in Anambra State to Makurdi, the Benue State capital along Ogbokolo/Otukpa federal highway.
Among the victims was an employee of the Nigeria Television Authority who was coming to Makurdi to see his family.
The passengers were travelling in Benue Links Transport Company belonging to the Benue State Government when the incident occurred between Ogbadibo and Okpokwu local government areas of the state.
It was the second time in one week that gunmen would intercept Benue Links buses and kidnap passengers.
Penultimate Sunday, September, 10th, no fewer than 10 passengers in two Benue Links buses were kidnapped along Ajaokuta/Okene road.
The state Commissioner for Energy, Power and Transport, Omale Omale, said eight of the 10 passengers kidnapped over a week ago had been released.
On the latest kidnap, the gunmen were reported to have intercepted the Benue Links bus fully loaded with 15 passengers, including the driver around 10 pm.
The State Police Command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, adding that an investigation was in progress.
Meanwhile, the management of NTA, Makurdi, in a letter of complaint to the state command signed by its Zonal Director, Pam Dung Nyam, stated that one of its staffers was in the ill-fated vehicle.
One of the employees of NTA who did not want to be mentioned informed our correspondent that the kidnappers had contacted the family of the victim and demanded N50m which was later reduced to N10m.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
